While playing golf at his Bedminster Golf Club during his first administration, Trump declared, “That White House is a real dump.” He also told a journalist that “Camp David would be likable for about 30 minutes.” Last week, Trump said the Kennedy Center was “in tremendous disrepair.” And he has made several derogatory comments about D.C. itself, suggesting he should take it over and run it.
So, what is Trump’s taste in décor? Many designers have labeled it “dictator chic.” Peter York authored a book called Dictator Style: Lifestyles of the World’s Most Colorful Despots. He studied 16 dictators and concluded that their styles were remarkably similar. I’ll sum up common attributes. See if they sound familiar.
These dictators tend to “go big.” They don’t like antiques. Everything is repro—new, crisp, and shiny. They like French décor because they think it says “money” much more than the subtler English look. They get many of their design ideas from hotels–big reception rooms, big public rooms. They like gold—gold wall decorations, gold furniture, gold columns. After gold, they use a ton of glass–lots of shiny surfaces, chandeliers, giant mirrors, and tabletops. Art and ornaments are big and bright. They tend to commission large paintings of themselves, sometimes life-size or bigger.
All these attributes are the opposite of the design traditions of Washington, D.C. The American Capitol was designed to avoid Europe’s autocratic excesses and instead project a message of simplicity, democracy, and egalitarianism.
Each time I see Trump in the Oval Office since January 20th of this year, I notice more of his signature style. He brought gold angel statues from Mar-a-Lago. He added gold picture frames, a gilded TV remote, gold figurines on the mantle, gilded Rococo mirrors on the doors, and gold framed medallions now decorate the fireplace. There are 15 paintings on the walls, including a massive one of Ronald Reagan. He asked for the original Declaration of Independence, but the National Archives houses that faded document. So instead, Trump hung a valued replica of the Declaration that he hid behind a drape for its initial unveiling. He reinstalled his Diet Coke button. And he has added a big map of the Gulf of America. Let’s just say the Oval Office is now jam-packed with stuff.
Psychologists have done studies on the psyche of conspicuous consumption. The results are interesting. Such consumers are seen as arrogant, less moral, and less warm. Their ostentation is not effective in cooperative environments but tends to work in competitive environments—one-upmanship if you will.
It’s interesting because in some ways these preferences represent the major divide in our country. Some citizens are impressed with flaunting excess. They believe that society needs to be ordered based on social rank and see ostentatious tendencies as reinforcers of that rank. Others are completely turned off by it. They believe that equality and fairness are important and see ostentatious behavior as a manifestation of power, social inequality, and waste.
In general, western cultures tend to value equality more than Asian cultures which value social order.
The philosopher Bertrand Russell once wrote, “For my part, the thing I would wish to obtain from money would be leisure with security. But what the typical modern man desires to get with it is more money, with a view to ostentation, splendor, and the outshining of those who have hitherto been his equals.” Interesting.
Maria Grant was principal-in-charge of the federal human capital practice of an international consulting firm. While on the Eastern Shore, she focuses on writing, reading, music, and nature.
Bil Anderson says
Ms. Grant I am sure there is insight and value in your article. I was unable to find any.
Maria Grant says
Bill, thanks for writing. Sorry you found no value in my article.
Vic Pfeiffer says
What an interesting new angle on a person who for a whole host of other reasons – behavior, speech, actions – we know to be narcissistic, power hungry, selfish and insecure. Thanks
Maria Grant says
Vic, thanks for writing. I must say it’s all so depressing!
Wendy Wander says
Great article about our “Dictator in Chief”. I didn’t know that the ‘Capitol was designed to avoid Europe’s autocratic excesses and instead project a message of simplicity, democracy, and egalitarianism,’ thanks for educating me on that.
Maria Grant says
Wendy, thanks for writing. Much appreciated.
James Nick says
Originally called the “President’s Palace” on early maps, what we call the White House before trump 2.0 was officially named the Executive Mansion in 1810 in order to avoid connotations of royalty. At various times though, it was also referred to as the “President’s House,” and the “Executive Mansion.” Theodore Roosevelt officially gave the White House its current name in 1901.
But, going forward, the former White House should now more properly be referred to as the “Imperial Palace”. Or perhaps, given the recent events regarding the monumental Signal security breach, maybe “The Fun House” or “The House of Horrors” would be more apropos.
Maria Grant says
James, thanks for writing. I agree that it’s a bit of a horror show. And it just seems to be getting worse.
Bob Moores says
Maria, once again you nailed it.
Trump exudes “dictator wannabe”, self-importance, self-love, and the priority of money and power in every aspect of his life. Other than himself, look at the people he admires most: Vladimir Putin, Kim Jong Un, and Recep Erdogan.
Trump is among the best con-men grifters I have ever seen. Maybe the best.
Why is he adored by many? He tells his followers what they want to hear:
Climate change? No problem. Drill, Baby. Drill (Live for the present; don’t worry about the future of our grandchildren and the health of our planet).
Covid pandemic? Don’t worry; it’ll be over by Easter.
I’ll rid our country of those dark-skinned invaders from the south who are taking your jobs.
I’ll make America great like it was in the past.
Elect me and I’ll end the war in Ukraine in 24 hours. Groceries too expensive? Prices will start dropping as soon as I’m back in charge.
I’ll put tariffs on goods from all those countries who are unfairly competing with us (neglecting to tell his followers that they will pay those taxes).
Democrats, especially of the woke variety, are enemies of America.
Congressional Republicans, fear me. Criticize me and I’ll primary you out of office.
Maria, you used the word “egalitarianism”. I doubt Trump would know its meaning since it would be antithetical to all he stands for.
Pay little attention to Trump’s lemmings. They don’t represent the ideals, the better angels we all should be striving to be.
Maria Grant says
Bob, thanks for writing. We are in desperate need of those better angels!